Student Fee Increases Recommended By UT Trustees

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The smallest in-state undergraduate and graduate fee increase in 12 years for two University of Tennessee campuses was recommended Wednesday by the UT board of trustees finance committee.

The change is subject to approval by the full board which meets Thursday. The proposed percentage increases are:

In-State

* Undergraduate and graduate at UT-Knoxville and UT-Martin (3 percent, the smallest increase since 1983-84 when there was no hike).

* Undergraduate and graduate at UT-Chattanooga (4.4 percent).

* Law (7 percent).

* Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy (no increase).

* Graduate nursing and veterinary medicine (3 percent).

Out-of-State Tuition

* Undergraduate and graduate (5 percent).

* Law (8 percent).

* Veterinary medicine (10 percent).

* Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy (15 percent).

“The proposed fees, coupled with expected minimal increases in enrollment, will generate approximately $4 million in new revenues,” said Emerson Fly, UT’s executive vice president.

By campus, the proposed semester fees (and increases over the current year) for in-state undergraduate students would be:

* UT-Knoxville, $942 ($27). UTK fees in recent years have been substantially less than the national average, and Fly said the increase will keep UTK comparable to the Southern average.

* UT-Chattanooga, $857 ($36, including $11 to equalize UTC and UT-Martin fees over a two-year period). Without the additional amount, the UTC increase would be only 3 percent.

* UT-Martin, $869 ($26).

The Knoxville, Chattanooga and Martin campuses are proposing increases in their student services fees.

UT-Knoxville’s Student Government Association recommended a $29-per-semester increase to finance renovation of intramural fields, a new fitness center, increased operating hours for the aquatic center and additional funds for club sports, student health services and cultural projects.

UT-Martin proposes a $2-per-semester increase to finance club sports and concerts. UT-Chattanooga proposes a $5-per-semester hike to support student health programs.